The Differences Between Fixed Wireless And Satellite Internet Service

Recent consumer research revealed that most consumers think that satellite Internet and fixed wireless Internet are the same things. The truth, however, is that the two services are actually quite different.

Consumer Confusion

What leads to the common consumer confusion that satellite Internet and fixed wireless Internet are the same things? One factor is that neither requires cable infrastructure, and cable is still the most prevalent type of Internet service in the U.S. In addition, both fixed wireless Internet and satellite Internet have traditionally been marketed in areas where the cable is not available, and the companies involved do not go out of their way to define the services they offer for various reasons.

How Satellite Internet Works

A satellite internet connection requires a satellite dish, which has both a transmitter and a receiver. Dishes can be installed on the roof or siding but can also be installed on the property itself. The Internet Service Provider has satellites in space, and data is beamed from your ISP to the satellite, which then beams the data to you. The entire process works in reverse as well.

High latency has traditionally been a characteristic of Satellite Internet due to the lag time introduced by the transmission between the satellite and the dish. Weather is also a factor since rain, snow and even sunspots can interfere with the service. Satellite internet providers often have data caps and charge for overages. On the plus side, satellite Internet services are rarely down for extended periods like cable can be.

How Fixed Wireless Internet Works

Fixed wireless internet involves the use of secure radio waves that are transmitted between an antenna—often mounted on your roof—and a tower that serves your area. While the fundamental concepts are not new, some of the technologies that allow for fixed wireless Internet are. This is why fixed wireless is just now becoming prevalent and why many consumers do not know much about it.

Since transmissions are achieved on a point-to-point basis and at a low atmosphere, there is none of the lag time that you expect from a satellite connection. You are also dealing with small distances, such as 10 miles rather than 23,000. Fixed wireless is also not affected by the weather. It also allows for high bandwidth, so ISPs tend to offer better speeds than satellites and generally do not have data caps.

The Future of Satellite Internet

Satellite ISPs have traditionally used geostationary satellites. That is about to change. Starlink is already in beta, and it uses geosynchronous satellites. There are other ISPs like this on the horizon as well. These companies will change how we think about satellite Internet. Bandwidth will be higher. Latency will be comparable to cable. There will be no data caps. Weather will still be an issue, but Starlink has already improved on that to a great degree and will continue to do so.

The Future of Fixed Wireless Internet

Fixed wireless was at first thought of as a solution for rural communities. But companies like AT&T have had great success in urban areas and are planning to expand. The technology will continue to improve as well and should become a much more prominent option for many Americans over the next decade.

Final Thoughts

Satellite Internet and fixed wireless Internet are not the same. But they are similar in that they are both able to overcome limitations often associated with cable Internet and even fiber Internet.